Imagen Awards emphasize the fiesta: Event took place Friday at the BevHilton

August 14, 2012|Eddie Kim | Variety

The 27th Imagen Awards, celebrating positive Latino portrayals in TV and film, kicked off with a blast of mariachi music and a bevy of yells and whistling from the crowd. The Friday event felt more like a party than a tribute event; at least the celebs who filled the BevHilton seemed to think so, offering up a solid selection of laughs and blooper-reel moments throughout. Lou Diamond Phillips, for one, wasn't shy about having fun. "I used to play young guns. Now I play dads. Fifteen years ago I would've hit on that chick!" he joked, referring to host Gina Rodriguez. "Ugh. Stand and deliver Viagra." Hijinks also reigned supreme at the ceremony: A funny moment became an awkwardly hilarious one when Alexa Vega and Francia Raisa played with Vega's award and accidentally dropped it, busting the glass trophy from its base. Genuine emotion bubbled up as well during the show. Jenni Rivera received a standing ovation as she accepted the president's award. "I'm so ghetto I had to bring my napkin with me," Rivera quipped, dabbing her eyes. And many performers mentioned the passing of Lupe Ontiveros, who received a fitting moment of silence early in the program.